Tattered flag's owner says he is not anti-American

The owner of a tattered American flag that was taken down and destroyed after a local veteran thought it was disrespectful says he is not anti-American in pursuing the criminal case against the man who took his property.

In fact, John Barry Granfield said not prosecuting Karl Edward Baldner would be un-American.

Baldner, 49, who openly admitted to removing an old, weathered flag from Granfield's business location last summer, is now charged with petit theft, a misdemeanor. He is scheduled to go to trial on Tuesday.

Granfield did not return messages left for him Wednesday about the controversy, but after a story ran online and in the Orlando Sentinel today, he called the newspaper to voice his concerns.

"It was my flag. I loved that flag. It meant a lot to me," Granfield said. "He had no right to steal it from me. I didn't have the money to replace that flag with a new one."

Granfield said he believes Baldner entered his real estate business, which was located on Citrus Avenue across from the Goldenrod Post Office, last summer fuming about the condition of the flag. Granfield said he was "screaming, yelling and threatening and pointing."

He remembered saying that he feared the man would return and take the flag. After going away on vacation in August 2009, he returned to find the flag gone.

Baldner has denied confronting Granfield or ever meeting him. He said he left two notes expressing his concerns about the flag. The second one was left after he removed the flag. It said "Please have respect for the American flag and don't display our flag in such a condition. It disgraces our nation."

The flag was about 50 percent deteriorated, Baldner said. The red portions had turned a rust-tan color. The blue portions were gray, he said. "It was weathered, beaten and disgraceful," he said this week.

Baldner left his name and number with his note. He was later contacted by the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Nearly a year later, he received a summons letting him know he was being charged with the theft.

Granfield insists he hates to be in this situation with the negativity surrounding it, but he also said if Baldner "would have come up in a nice way and not yelling and screaming it would have been a whole different story."

He would have gladly accepted a replacement flag, but said Baldner did not offer him a replacement. Baldner said he is willing to give Granfield an intact flag that was once draped over a fallen soldier.

Still Granfield says he feels "violated" by the removal of his flag without his permission.

"I love that flag. I was so offended by him telling me how an American acts and should be," Granfield said. "I think it's the right thing to let him know you don't do this to people."

Randy Means, with the State Attorney's Office, said the case still seems headed for trial with both parties standing their ground – and by their principles.

Meanwhile, many callers contacted the Sentinel today about the case. Many offered their support for Baldner and his actions. A few condemned him for taking the flag. And several simply thought the idea of taking the case to trial was a waste of time and resources.

One suggested the two men should just end the controversy by shaking hands after Baldner gives Granfield the replacement flag.

For now though, Baldner stands by his actions and still believes he did the right thing.

"The point is the flag still represents the United States of America," he said. "It should be honored and revered and not tossed around like a piece of toilet paper."